Truck hits Damascus church, driver dead

March 29, 2014

The highway patrol is investigating a Friday morning crash that left one man dead and the entrance of the Damascus Friends Church smashed open.

According to the patrol's Lisbon post, Thomas E. Trowbridge, 52, of Sharon, Pa., was southbound on state Route 534 at 7:53 a.m. in a 2011 International box truck and failed to stop at the intersection of U.S. Route 62.

He reportedly continued on Morris Street through the intersection at Walnut Street, striking a stop sign and construction barrel before plowing into the Damascus Friends Church.

Trowbridge was transported from the scene by Damascus EMS to the Alliance Community Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Alcohol is not a factor, according to the patrol.

The church sustained substantial damage.

Nobody else was injured, although there were people walking inside in the church